In+Command

=In Command= Melissa Dredge

Purpose
This activity will test and reinforce the ability of new medical volunteers, to immediately work a disaster scenario with other professionals they have just met and develop an incident action plan for implementation under their watch. This activity is designed for my new orientation sessions for volunteers who have indicated that they wish to be involved on a more active response and leadership capacity. Each volunteer should have completed online training covering the management of disasters prior to arriving at class.

The motivational purposes of this activity are to serve as an ice-breaker, foster teamwork, cultivate a performance environment, and to demonstrate (or inspire) mastery of core competencies. It will also underscore the surprise factor associated with disasters!

Within minutes I will have a quick profile of the volunteer and their ability to work in a team, follow instructions, identify limits to skills/knowledge, communicate, and demonstrate leadership.

Time Required
The prerequisite online training takes approximately three hours. This exercise will take the place of traditional introductions and should only take 30 minutes.

Number of Participants
The orientations will only be held if we have a minimum of ten volunteers. Therefore a minimum of ten, a maximum of 25, and an optimal of 15-20.

Supplies Needed
__Facilitator__ Script and instructions Answer key (recommended actions) Timer Video of mock news broadcast for disaster scenario (optional)

__Volunteers__ Badges indicating medical license type (should be previously issued) Scenario briefing Blank [|Incident Objective] Form and [|Medical Plan] Form Pen or pencil

Preparation
The facilitator should be familiar with the scenario, the relevant content, and the volunteers who will be attending the orientation. A skilled facilitator may be able to use the answer key to guide the activity however they should discuss the exercise with a content expert prior to the orientation. Just prior to meeting, facilitator should use the sign-in sheet to break participants into groups.

Introduction
//Welcome to our Medical Volunteer Orietation! Please note that this first activity is a DRILL.//

//There has been a disaster, we're not quite sure of all of the details as it has just been reported. Wait, I believe we have a duty officer calling in to give an update.// OR //Please watch this breaking news report with us//.

//I know you have just started but there is no time for orientation! Hopefully you have completed you online training.// [Review selected scenario (earthquake, fires, infectious disease) and the associated medical mission for the volunteers (shelter, field treatment site, mass dispensing clinic.]

//Now break into the following groups of 2-4 [read off names].//

//Identify a team lead and develop a response strategy and objectives for your teams mission once you arrive at the location. You have 10 minutes. Thanks for your service as a medical volunteer!//

Process
Step by step, describe what the facilitator and the participants will be doing. If appropriate, estimate the number of minutes each step will take. > > * If limited participants, the facilitator may choose to form only two teams and then have the opposing teams review each others plans for 5 minutes prior to the debrief.
 * 1) Facilitator has all materials and media prepared and cued well before start time.
 * 2) Each volunteer signs in for the orientation session.
 * 3) Staff address any administrative/registration issues prior to start time (badge, paperwork, enrollment forms).
 * 4) Facilitator immediately launches into Introduction detailed above. (8 minutes)
 * 5) Facilitator reviews the scenario briefing, distributes copies, the blank forms, and pens/pencils. (2 minutes)
 * 6) Participants break into assigned groups and work on assignment. (10 minutes)
 * 7) Facilitator calls participants back into one group.*
 * 8) Facilitator conducts the debriefing (10 minutes)

Debrief

 * List questions the facilitator should ask to solidify what is learned in this activity.
 * Are you ready to respond to a disaster? Why or why not?
 * What objectives did you identify? Why?
 * What strengths and skills did your team members bring?
 * What experience was most relevant to this scenario?
 * Did you having any problems identifying a leader?
 * Did the online training inform your actions tonight?
 * If this had been real, would you have had your personal disaster plan activated quickly so you could respond as a volunteer?
 * What was frustrating? Were you excited?
 * Was this a good way to start your orientation??

Credits
To a certain extent this activity was inspired by a training program developed by Dr. K. Garman for our internal workforce several years ago. It was a PBL-training and asked participants to immerse themselves in a scenario in order to reveal some of the content points on their own. It was much more impactful to have the participant realize what they needed to do their job than to just recite a list of tasks!